Picture this: it’s the first of the month and instead of juggling rent, internet and whatever other sneaky charges pop up… you’ve already managed to get ahead of bills.
Imagine having a month's worth of paychecks sitting in your account, waiting to be used. No frantic transfers. No worrying about how you’re going to make ends meet. No “can I get back to you on that?” messages to your real estate agent. Just done and dusted.
We understand this may sound out of reach, but getting ahead is doable—and honestly, worth the effort.
Being a month ahead means being ahead of the game, rather than having to constantly play catchup. It’s not about having loads of cash lying around—it’s about changing the cycle so you’re no longer living paycheck to paycheck.
Once you experience a rent day without the stress of scrambling to pull funds together... you’ll wonder why you didn’t start sooner.
Let’s talk about how to make it happen.
First things first, figure out exactly what ‘a month ahead’ looks like for you. Add up all the essentials you need to cover each month, including:
Once you’ve got that total, you know the amount you’re working towards.
Top tip: A way to reduce the number you need to hit at this point is to see whether there’s actually something you can get cheaper or no longer need and can cut. Having lower monthly costs will make your goal seem more achievable and could get you ahead of your bills faster!
Seeing the full number might feel overwhelming, but splitting it into smaller, achievable chunks makes it way less intimidating and easier to plan. Set yourself a weekly target and try your best to stick within your budget to have the savings available to put away.
For example, if you need $1,000 to cover a month of your expenses, saving $100–$150 each week will get you there in just a few months, and without killing your social life.
Saving is so much easier when you don’t see the money sitting in your everyday account. Consider opening a separate savings account specifically for your bills buffer, because if it’s out of sight, it’s out of mind.
Give it a name that’ll make you think twice before touching it. It could be something like ‘Future Rent Fund’ or ‘DO NOT TOUCH’, to really help yourself get the message.
Top tip: New to building up savings? With the RentPay buffer feature, you can set up automatic transfers to your wallet—then set and forget, knowing your buffer is growing in the background.
Getting a month ahead doesn’t mean cutting out every joy in life. No one’s asking you to survive on instant noodles but making some short-term tweaks can speed things up.
Get creative and challenge yourself on ways to save money:
A few small changes like these can add up quickly. You’re not sacrificing fun forever, just until you get a decent buffer in place.
Got your tax refund? Making some cash selling old clothes or furniture on Facebook Marketplace? Maybe you picked up extra shifts or got bonus pay?
Instead of letting that cash disappear into brunches and impulse buys (tempting, we know), throw it straight into your ‘a month ahead’ fund.
Once you’ve built ‘a month ahead’ buffer, the trick is to keep using last month’s income to pay this month’s bills. Every pay cycle, top the buffer back up as you spend from it. That way, you stay ahead without slipping back into old habits.
It also means that if your rent goes up or you get hit with an unexpected bill, you’ve already got the breathing room to handle it without stressing yourself out.
Ultimately, staying committed to this habit will mean that you’re more mindful of what you’re spending and saving, while building plenty of good financial behaviours along the way. Keep it up and you’ll not just get ahead of your bills; you’ll also be getting ahead in life!
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> Automation and bill smoothing to become a budget pro
> How to set goals and achieve financial wellness while renting
> Payday success: Habits for effective money management
